The Canada Revenue Agency advises that if you received one of the federal government’s benefits related to COVID-19 last year, you may have to pay some of it back in taxes.
Saskatchewan spokesperson, Joanne De Waal, says no tax was withheld for CERB, which is the Canada Emergency Recovery Benefit, or from the Emergency Student Benefit.
Ten per cent was withheld for the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Recovery Sickness Benefit or the Caregiver Benefit.
Depending on your finances for 2020, you may owe some money.
If it’s a financial hardship, De Waal says, the payment parameters have been expanded this year based on each taxpayer’s situation.
The CRA has begun sending out the T4A and T4E slips, which you should receive by mid-March.

If you cannot pay your balance owing on or before April 30, 2021, the CRA may accept a payment arrangement only after you have reasonably tried to get the necessary funds by borrowing or rearranging your financial affairs.
There are a number of ways to make a payment arrangement.

You may be able pay by pre-authorized debit agreement through your CRA account called My Account.

You can call the CRA’s TeleArrangement service at 1-866-256-1147. You will need to provide your social insurance number, your date of birth, and the amount you entered on line 15000 from your last return for which you received a notice of assessment. The TeleArrangement service is available Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern time.

You could also call the CRA’s debt management call centre at 1-888-863-8657 to speak to an agent. Agents are available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time.

The CRA will charge daily compound interest on any outstanding balance starting May 1, 2021, until you pay your balance in full.